a 1923 view before North Lake Shore Drive extended north of Lincoln Park, the park and below map highlights both Sheridan Road and N Lake Shore Drive

A Bathing Beach Plan in 1896:

a new park/beach space between Fullerton Avenue

and Diversey Parkway

Bathing Beaches were design

for the 'the poor masses' - 1901

(click on article to enlarge)

Bathing Beach 'Park House' for Bathers

at Lincoln Park (Fullerton) Bathing Beach 1902

A Scene from Lincoln Park (Fullerton) Bathing Beach

or Diversey Boulevard in 1908

(click on article to enlarge)

(click on article to enlarge)

1912 photo - University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign

"Chicago's Bathing Beach, Lincoln Park" 1912.
From text: "A refectory and provision for athletic pastimes are additional
features of the place also a children's bathing beach. It is reached by the
North Clark Street electric car."- photo caption

An Arrest is Made in 1913:

not to mix the sexes

1921 & 1922 respectfully

photos - Chuckman Collection

This could have been any beach along the lake 1920's. There was a dress code in those days - for women only!

Some Geography

The City of Lake View (1887-1889) was annexed to the City of Chicago in 1889. For the next 35 years plus the area of annexation - Western Avenue to the existing lakefront, Fullerton Avenue to Devon Avenue - was referred to as the

District of Lake View. By 1930 the City of Chicago adopted official neighborhoods hence creating a smaller Lake View.

Population Densities

created its increasing popularity by 1916

Street-end beaches were sandy beaches created literally at end of any street that would accommodate sand collection by the lake currents. Some beaches had real estate constructed on them such as a clubhouse while others were just beach-heads like the current 'doggie' beach at Belmont Harbor. As more of the existing lakefront was land-filled northward the street-end beaches disappeared from the landscape. Harbors would be created and more green space would be developed slowly northward throughout the 20th century.

This postcard while highlighting the The Embassy Hotel on Diversey Parkway this postcard also highlights the park space between the harbors - Diversey and Belmont - at the time. The Diversey Avenue Golf Links was a full 18 hole course prior to the mid 20th century.

The 'Public House' building was designed by city architect C.W. Kallal in a Mediterranean Revival Style, an architectural style that was used for such buildings as Marshall and Fox’s South Shore Country Club of 1916 (now South Shore Cultural Center) and the 63rd Street Bathing Pavilion in 1919. This style, also referred to as the 'Italian Resort Style' was defined by tall towers capped with hipped-roofs clad in clay tiles, large entry colonnades, porticos, loggias and open-air promenades compliments this style of architecture.

A new harbor replaces the Clarendon Municipal Bathing Beach by 1932image - Art Institute of Chicago

photo - Art Institute of ChicagoPlans for the old 'Public House' and property 1929

Due to the loss of beach with the extension of the park northward plans were made to create a city college on public land. There was also a proposal to build and extension for the Lake View High School during this same time period.

photo - Chicago History Museum 1905 with the Wilson Avenue Crib in the background

1915 - Chicago History Museum Daily News Archives

Chicago History Museum Daily News Archives

In 1916, within a year of the opening of Clarendon Municipal Public Beach, a violent clash erupted between city beach-goers and members of the neighboring Wilson Avenue Beach that was private/paid members only. In an attempt to keep municipal bathers out of the waters and off of the private beach, owned by the Wilson Beach Company, lifeguards and members beat a boy whom they claimed had not paid his admittance fee. The Chicago Tribune explained that "bathers from other beaches can be distinguished from those who pay admittance fees by the manner of bathing suits they wear." - Encyclopedia of Chicago

images - Chicago History in Postcards - 1911

photo - Chicago History MuseumNotice on the billboard divider in the background that separated the two beaches to the left of the photo

photo - Chicago History Museum

1919 photo - Chicago History Museum

The Water Swing 1921 - Calumet 412

1922 that shows the divider between the public and private beach from the Wilson private side

a 1940 view indicates beach areaJust north of Belmont Avenue along the harbor was a beach space that surrounded the club house. That space disappeared after the Lake Shore Drive extension of 1937-42View more about Belmont Harbor with this link and this link.Another Type of BeachBelmont Harbor Doggie Beach

3600 N Lake Shore Drive

Belmont Harbor Dog Beach is located at 3600 N. Lake Shore Drive on just north of Belmont Harbor waters. The stretch of land is about 1/10th of an acre. There’s still plenty of room for dogs to run, frolic and play fetch. As with all Chicago dog parks/beaches, dogs must have an up-to-date vaccination tag, available at almost all vets for $5.

These images are from Sanborn Fire Maps of 1909 that highlighted the proposed plans to extend Lincoln Park northward from Fullerton Avenue to Cornelia Street

Fullerton Avenue to Diversey Boulevard (Parkway)

2016 Google Map view

Diversey Boulevard to Belmont Avenue

2016 Google Map view Belmont Avenue to Cornelia StreetCornelia was the northern border of Lincoln Park until the mid to late 1920's to early 1930's. The development of Montrose Beach and Harbor would be the next development northward.

2016 Google Map view

Important Note:

These posts are exclusively used for educational purposes. I do not wish to gain monetary profit from this blog nor should anyone else without permission for the original source - thanks!

Narrative & Navigation

This has been a passion of mine for several years. This passion began with a simple inquiry of an ornate gate that surrounds a parking lot on my street. This singular inquiry lead me to learn everything I could online about the history of my neighborhood - Lake View, one of the 77 neighborhoods within the City of Chicago. Consider this topical blog as an online library of information for educators like myself who intend to teach others about this historical & robust corner of Chicago. I hope you enjoy the read and add any type of comments at the end of each post. I have a Facebook presence called 'LakeView Historical'.